Sarah Taylor to take indefinite break from cricket

England women's cricket team wicketkeeper, Sarah Taylor has announced that she will be taking an indefinite break from cricket. She is set to miss the upcoming series against Pakistan that is scheduled to start on June 20.

According to a statement from the England Cricket Board (ECB), Taylor is “taking a break from cricket, having decided to take some personal time away from the game.” Taylor has been on of the most consistent performers for the national side in the recent past, and this will come as a huge blow to the England cricket team.

A spokesperson from the ECB told the cricket website, CRICKETher that Taylor has received backing from the board and that they would remain in constant contact with her regarding any possibility of a comeback. The spokesperson said that the board would “support her, keep in touch and talk with her prior to selection for the Pakistan series and the start of the Kia Super League.”

The 26-year-old already missed the first three games matches of Sussex's domestic season. Following this development, her participation in the inaugural Kia Women's Super League, that starts at the end of July, also remains in doubt.

This comes as further bad news for the England women's cricket team after revolutionary captain, Charlotte Edwards had stepped down and bid adieu to the game. Edwards had quit following pressure from Mark Robinson, head coach of the national team.

With Edwards’ departure, Taylor would have been one of the favourites to take over the role of leading the national side. However, it seems that the captaincy will fall on the shoulders of all-rounder, Heather Knight.

Although she is one of the most talented women's cricketers in the world now, Taylor had a terrible outing at the Women's World T20 in March. She scored only 49 runs in five matches at an average of 9.80.

For England, she has played in 101 ODIs and scored 3261 runs at an average of just under 40. She has 5 hundreds and 16 fifties to her name. Taylor has a healthy average of over 30 in the shortest format of the game, having scored 2054 runs in 81 T20Is.

Taylor had taken a break of four months in 2010 too during which she has missed out an Ashes series. Her comeback to the game at the time had led her to reach great heights for England women's cricket, being termed as one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen. England women's cricket will be hoping that Taylor's comeback will be soon and better than before.